Hinge and collapsible device utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

A collapsible device includes a cover, a base, and a hinge. The cover includes a display on a top of the cover. The base defines a groove extending through a front and a rear sides of the base. The groove defines a keyboard region adjacent to the front side, and a fixing slot adjacent to the rear side. The hinge is connected to a bottom of the cover and the fixing slot. The cover is rotatably received in the groove, and the cover is operable of rotating relative to the display around the hinge, to cover or expose the keyboard region.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a hinge and a collapsible device utilizing thehinge.

2. Description of Related Art

A collapsible device, such as a notebook computer or a clamshell mobilephone, generally includes a main body and a display hinged to the mainbody. The hinge allows the display to be rotatable with respect to themain body, and to be folded with the main body for saving space.

In use, the display is rotated to a desired angle relative to the mainbody, facing the users, so that the collapsible device can beconveniently operated. However, it needs a greater space for rotation ofthe display relative to the main body, which is inconvenient in use, oreven limits usage of the collapsible device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of acollapsible device, the collapsible device includes a base, a hinge, anda cover rotatably mounted to the base via the hinge.

FIG. 2 is an inverted view of the collapsible device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the hinge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an inverted view of the hinge of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of the hinge of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but viewed from another perspective.

FIG. 7 is an assembled, isometric view of the collapsible device of FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the cover is rotated relativeto the base.

FIG. 9 is view of a state of the hinge utilized in the collapsibledevice of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the cover is completely openedrelative to the base.

FIG. 11 is a view of another state of the hinge utilized in thecollapsible device of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of a collapsibledevice includes a cover 2, a base 3, and a hinge 4 connecting the cover2 to the base 3.

The cover 2 includes a display 20 on a top of the cover 2. A bottom ofthe cover 2 defines a receiving slot 220 adjacent to a rear side of thecover 2, and two fixing holes 222 beside the receiving slot 220. Twoopposite ends of the cover 2 curve down from the top of the cover 2 tothe bottom of the cover 2 to form two arc-shaped portions 24,correspondingly.

The base 3 defines a groove 32 in a center of the base 3, extendingthrough front and rear sides of the base 3. The groove 32 defines afixing slot 320 neighboring the rear side of the base 3, correspondingto the receiving slot 220 of the cover 2, and a keyboard region 324neighboring the front side of the base 3. A bottom of the fixing slot320 defines a plurality of fixing holes 322. The base 3 further includestwo operating portions 34 respectively adjacent to opposite ends of thegroove 32, and each operating portion 34 extends in a curve to connectto the corresponding end of the groove 32.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinge 4 includes a resilient member 40,a connecting member 41, a rotating member 43, a fixing member 45, aninterfering member 47, a washer 48 defining a through hole 480 in acenter of the washer 48, and a fastener 49. In this embodiment, theresilient member 40 is a coil spring.

The connecting member 41 includes a head portion 412, and a shaftportion 414 having a smaller diameter than the head portion 412 andperpendicularly extending from the head portion 412. The shaft portion414 defines two opposite fixing slots 416, in the circumferentialsurface of the shaft portion 414. A screw hole 418 is defined in an endsurface of the shaft portion 414, opposite to the head portion 412.

The rotating member 43 includes a first side 430, and a second side 431opposite to the first side 430. The rotating member 43 defines twofixing holes 432 extending through the first and second sides 430, 431,adjacent to opposite ends of the rotating member 43. A cylindricalfixing protrusion 4302 protrudes from a center of the first side 430.The diameter of the fixing protrusion 4302 is equal to the innerdiameter of the resilient member 40, such that the fixing protrusion4302 can be received in the resilient member 40. A through hole 4304 isdefined in a center of the fixing protrusion 4302, with opposite fixingribs 4306 protruding inwards from an inner wall bounding the though hole4304. A generally V-shaped first locking block 4312 extends from thesecond side 431, neighboring the through hole 4304. Opposite sides ofthe first locking block 4312 form two resisting surfaces 4313 adjacentand perpendicular to the second side 431. A generally V-shaped secondlocking block 4314 extends from the second side 431, opposite to thefirst locking block 4312. Opposite sides of the second locking block4314 form two resisting surfaces 4315 adjacent and perpendicular to thesecond side 431. A distance from the through hole 4304 to the firstlocking block 4312 is greater than a distance from the through hole 4304to the second locking block 4314.

The fixing member 45 includes a fixing portion 451 defining a pluralityof fixing holes 4512 in corners of the fixing portion 451, and amatching portion 452 extending from the fixing portion 451. The fixingportion 451 defines a round through hole 4513. The matching portion 452surrounds the through hole 4513. The fixing portion 451 defines twoopposite slots 4511 in a bottom of the fixing portion 451, opposite tothe matching portion 452, and communicating with the round through hole4513.

A generally V-shaped cutout 455 is defined in a circumference of thematching portion 452, communicating with the round through hole 4513. Ahelical slope 4522 and a helical sliding surface 4523 are formed in anend surface of the matching portion 452, opposite to the fixing portion451. The slope 4522 and the sliding surface 4523 are at opposite sidesof the cutout 455. The highest end of the sliding surface 4523 connectsto a first inner wall bounding the cutout 455, and the lowest end of theslope 4522 connects to a second inner wall opposite to the first innerwall bounding the cutout 455. The lowest end of the slope 4522 forms afirst stopping surface 4552 facing the cutout 455, and the highest endof the slope 4522 opposite to the lowest end of the slope 4522 forms asecond stopping surface 4525 facing a lowest end of the sliding surface4523. The lowest end of the sliding surface 4523 is slantingly connectedto the second stopping surface 4525. In other embodiments, the slope4522 can be a plan surface, and the first and second stopping surfaces4552 and 4525 can be omitted.

The interfering member 47 is similar to the matching portion 452 of thefixing member 45. The interfering member 47 is generally cylindricalwith a diameter less than the round through hole 4513 of the fixingmember 45. Two opposite locking posts 471 radially extend out from aperiphery of a first end of the interfering member 47. The interferingmember 47 defines a through hole 470, to allow the shaft portion 414 ofthe connecting member 41 to extend therethrough. A helical engagingsurface 472 and a slanting surface 473 are formed in a second end of theinterfering member 47, opposite to the first end of the interferingmember 47. A V-shaped receiving groove 474 is defined in thecircumference of the interfering member 47 between the engaging surface472 and the slanting surface 473. A highest end of the engaging surface472 connects to a first wall bounding the receiving groove 474, and ahighest end of the slanting surface 473 connects to a second wallopposite to the first wall bounding the receiving groove 474. A lowestend of the slanting surface 473 forms a first end surface 4732 facing alowest end of the engaging surface 472, and the highest end of theslanting surface 473 opposite to the highest end of the engaging surface472 forms a second end surface 4740 facing the highest end of theengaging surface 472. The lowest end of the engaging surface 472 isslantingly connected to the first end surface 4732. In otherembodiments, the slanting surface 473 can be a planar surface, and thefirst and second end surfaces 4732 and 4740 can be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in assembly of the hinge 4, the interferingmember 47 is received in the round through hole 4513 of the fixingmember 45, with the locking posts 471 of the interfering member 47clamped in the slots 4511 of the fixing member 45. Therefore, theinterfering member 47 is fixed to the fixing member 45, with the cutout455 positioned opposite to the receiving groove 474 of the interferingmember 47. The shaft portion 414 of the connecting member 41 is extendedthrough the resilient member 40, the through hole 4304 of the rotatingmember 43, and the through hole 470 of the interfering member 47 in thatorder. The fastener 49 is extended through the through hole 480 ofwasher 48, and then screwed into the screw hole 418 of the connectingmember 41. The washer 48 resists against the bottom of the fixingportion 451, to prevent the fixing member 45, the rotating member 43,and the resilient member 40 from disengaging from the shaft portion 414of the connecting member 41.

In the aforementioned assembly, the fixing ribs 4306 of the rotatingmember 43 are engaged in the fixing slots 416 of the connecting member41, such that the rotating member 43 is fixedly sleeved on the shaftportion 414 of the connecting member 41. The resilient member 40 ispartially sleeved on the fixing protrusion 4302 of the rotating member43, and opposite ends of the resilient member 40 elastically resistagainst the head portion 412 of the connecting member 41 and the firstside 430 of the rotating member 43. The first locking block 4312 of therotating member 43 is engaged in the receiving groove 474 of theinterfering member 47, and the second locking block 4314 of the rotatingmember 43 is engaged in the cutout 455 of the fixing member 45. One ofthe resisting surfaces 4313 of the first locking block 4312 resistsagainst the second end surface 4740 of the interference member 47. Oneof the resisting surfaces 4315 of the second locking block 4314 resistsagainst the first stopping surface 4552 of the fixing member 47.

Referring to FIG. 7, in assembly of the collapsible device, the fixingmember 45 is received in the fixing slot 320 of the base 3, with thefixing holes 4512 aligned with the fixing holes 322. A plurality ofbolts (not shown) are extended through the fixing holes 322, and theninserted into the fixing holes 451, resulting in fixing the hinge 4 tothe base 3. Two bolts (not shown) are extended through the fixing holes432 of the rotating member 43, and then inserted into the fixing holes222 of the cover 2, to fix the rotating member 43 to the cover 2, withthe head portion 412 of the connecting member 41 and a part of theresilient member 40 received in the receiving slot 220 of the cover 2.Therefore, the cover 2 is received in the groove 32 of the base 3, andcovered the keyboard region 324 of the base 3, with the arc-shapedportions 24 of the cover 2 resisting against corresponding ends of thegroove 32. In this time, the collapsible device can be operated to playgames, see movies, or listen to the music via operating of the operatingportions 34 of the base 3.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, in use, to open the cover 2, it is rotatedon a plane parallel to the display 20 around the connecting member 41.Synchronously, the first locking block 4312 moves out of the receivinggroove 474 of the interfering member 47 to the highest end of theengaging surface 472. Correspondingly, the second locking block 4314moves out of the cutout 455 of the fixing member 45 to the highest endof the sliding surface 4523. Thereby, the rotating member 43 is movedaway from the fixing member 45 to further deform the resilient member40, so that the cover 2 moves upwards from the groove 32 of the base 3.

When the cover 2 is rotated further, the first locking block 4312 moveson the receiving groove 474, and the second block locking block 4314moves along the sliding surface 4523. In this process, the cover 2 isrotated to the rear side of the base 3, and moved towards the base 3.When one of the resisting surfaces 4313 of the first locking block 4312resists against the first end surface 4732 of the interfering member 47,one of the resisting surfaces 4315 of the second locking block 4314resists against the second stopping surface 4525 of the fixing member45. The cover 2 is rotated 180 degrees and cannot be rotated farther,and the cover 2 is received in the groove 32 of the base 3 again, with afront side of the cover 2 exposed out from the rear side of the groove32. Therefore, the keyboard region 324 of the base 3 is exposed tousers.

When the collapsible device is closed, the cover 2 is rotated back 180degrees, to cover the keyboard region 324 of the base 3. In thisprocess, the first locking block 4312 moves into the receiving groove474 of the interfering member 47 along the engaging surface 472. Thesecond locking block 4314 moves into the cutout 455 of the fixing member45 along the sliding surface 4523.

Obviously, in other embodiments, the fixing member 43 and theinterfering member 47 can be combined with each other to form a singleunit.

It is believed that the present embodiments and theirs advantages willbe understood from the foregoing description, and they will be apparentthat various changes may be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplaryembodiments.

1. A collapsible device comprising: a cover comprising a display on atop of the cover; a base defining a groove extending through front andrear sides of the base, the groove defining a keyboard region adjacentto the front side, and a fixing slot adjacent to the rear side; and ahinge connected between a bottom of the cover and the fixing slot;wherein the cover is rotatably received in the groove via the hinge, thecover is operable of rotating relative to the display around the hinge,to cover or expose the keyboard region.
 2. The collapsible device ofclaim 1, wherein the base comprises two operating portions respectivelyadjacent to opposite ends of the groove, and each operating portioncurvedly extends to connect to a corresponding end of the groove, thecover further comprises two arc-shaped portions situated at oppositeends of the cover, the arc-shaped portions abut against thecorresponding ends of the groove.
 3. The collapsible device of claim 2,wherein the hinge comprises a connecting member and a rotating memberfixed to the connecting member, the bottom of the cover defines areceiving slot to partially receive the connecting member, and therotating member is fixed to the bottom of the cover.
 4. The collapsibledevice of claim 3, wherein the hinge further comprises a fixing membersleeved on the connecting member, the fixing member is fixed in thefixing slot of the base.
 5. The collapsible device of claim 1, whereinthe hinge comprises a rotating member fixed to the cover, a connectingmember fixed to the rotating member, a fixing member sleeved on theconnecting member, and an interfering member fixed to the fixing member,the fixing member comprises a helical sliding surface, and theinterfering member comprises a helical engaging surface, opposite to thesliding surface, wherein a first locking block and a second lockingblock opposite to the first locking block extend from the rotatingmember, the first and second locking blocks are operable of sliding onthe engaging surface and the sliding surface, correspondingly.
 6. Thecollapsible device of claim 5, wherein the connecting member comprises ashaft portion defining two fixing slots in the circumferential surfaceof the shaft portion, the rotating member defines a through hole,opposite fixing ribs protruding inwards the through hole from an innerwall bounding the though hole, the fixing ribs are engaged in the fixingslots of the connecting member.
 7. The collapsible device of claim 6,wherein a cylindrical fixing protrusion protrudes from the rotatingmember, opposite to the first and second locking blocks, the connectingmember further comprises a head portion, the hinge further comprises aresilient member having an inner diameter equal to a diameter of thefixing protrusion, the fixing protrusion can be received in theresilient member, and the resilient member elastically resist againstthe head portion and the rotating member.
 8. The collapsible device ofclaim 6, wherein the first and second locking blocks are generallyV-shaped, and surround the through hole of the rotating member, adistance from the first locking block to the through hole is smallerthan a distance from the second locking block to the through hole. 9.The collapsible device of claim 8, wherein the fixing member comprises afixing portion fixed in the fixing slot of the base, and a matchingportion extending from the fixing portion, a generally V-shaped cutoutis defined in a circumference of the matching portion, for slidablyreceiving the second locking block of the rotating member, the slidingsurface is formed in an end surface of the matching portion, and ahighest end of the sliding surface connects to a wall bounding thecutout.
 10. The collapsible device of claim 8, wherein the interferingmember defines a generally V-shaped receiving groove in a circumferenceof the interfering member, for slidably receiving the first lockingblock, the engaging surface is formed in an end surface of theinterfering member, and a highest end of the engaging surface connectsto a wall bounding the receiving groove.
 11. The collapsible device ofclaim 10, wherein the fixing member defines a round through hole forreceiving the interfering member, and two slots communicating with theround through hole, two locking posts extend out from a periphery of theinterfering member, to engage in the two slots, correspondingly.
 12. Thecollapsible device of claim 11, wherein the interfering member defines athrough hole communicating with the receiving groove, for the shaftportion of the connecting member rotatably extending through theinterfering member, the hinge further comprises a washer defining athrough hole, and a fastener, the fastener is passed through the throughhole of the washer, and inserted into a distal end of the shaft portion,with the washer abutting against the fixing member.
 13. A hingecomprising: a connecting member comprising a shaft portion; a rotatingmember fixed to the shaft portion, a first locking block and a secondlocking block opposite to the first locking block extending from therotating member; a resilient member sleeved on the shaft portion, andelastically resisting against the connecting member and the rotatingmember; a fixing member comprising a matching portion defining a cutoutfor receiving the second locking block, wherein a helical slidingsurface is formed on an end surface of the matching portion, and ahighest end of the sliding surface connected to a wall bounding thecutout; an interfering member fixed to the fixing member, and rotatablymounted to the shaft portion, the interfering member defining areceiving groove for receiving the first locking block of the rotatingmember, wherein a helical engaging surface is formed on an end of theinterfering member, and a highest end of the engaging surface connectedto a wall bounding the receiving groove; a washer defining a throughhole; and a fastener extended through the through hole of the washer,and inserted into the shaft portion, to abut the washer against thefixing member; wherein when the rotating member is rotated, the firstlocking block is slid out of the receiving groove to the highest end ofthe engaging surface, the second locking blocks is slid out of thecutout to the highest end of the sliding surface, with the resilientmember deformed, afterwards, the first and second locking blocks areslid along the engaging surface and the sliding surface,correspondingly, with the resilient member gradually restored.
 14. Thehinge of claim 13, wherein the shaft portion defines two fixing slots inthe circumferential surface of the shaft portion, the rotating memberdefines a through hole, opposite fixing ribs protruding inwards thethrough hole from an inner wall bounding the though hole, the fixingribs are engaged in the fixing slots of the connecting member.
 15. Thehinge of claim 14, wherein a cylindrical fixing protrusion protrudesfrom the rotating member, opposite to the first and second lockingblocks, the connecting member further comprises a head portion, theinner diameter of the resilient member is equal to a diameter of thefixing protrusion, the fixing protrusion can be received in theresilient member, and the resilient member elastically resist againstthe head portion and the rotating member.
 16. The hinge of claim 14,wherein the first and second locking blocks are generally V-shaped, andsurround the through hole of the rotating member, a distance from thefirst locking block to the through hole is smaller than a distance fromthe second locking block to the through hole.
 17. The hinge of claim 13,wherein the fixing member further comprises a fixing portion for thewasher resisting against, the matching portion extends from the fixingportion, the fixing member defines a round through hole extendingthrough the fixing portion and the matching portion, for receiving theinterfering member, the cutout is communicated with the round throughhole.
 18. The hinge of claim 17, wherein the interfering member definesa through hole communicating with the receiving groove, for the shaftportion rotatably extending through the interfering member, two slotsare defined in the fixing portion, communicating with the round throughhole, two locking posts extend from a periphery of the interferingmember, to engage in the two slots, correspondingly.